New saloon car with manual handbrake options

lawgrad15

Hi all,

What options are there for 211's in saloons with manual handbrakes?

Thanks!

colm_mcm

Drive some cars with electronic handbrakes, they’re better than you think.

The J Stands for Jay

lawgrad15 wrote: »

Hi all,

What options are there for 211's in saloons with manual handbrakes?

Thanks!

Why do you want one? I've never driven a non-manual handbrake car so I'm curious as to any disadvantages.

lawgrad15

I should have said at the outset it's not for me - I'm researching for an older family member who is very against an electric handbrake. I couldn't find much info online so I said I would try here. Cheers!

MrMusician18

3 series I think it's still manual handbrake only. I read something about driving heritage bollocks as the reason they've retained it

JoeA3

Previous generation (F3X) 3 and 4 series have a manual handbrake. That generation 3 series is long discontinued but there's still a few of the old 4 series around on 202 plates.

Last generation Skoda Octavia also.

bazz26

Are they limited to a saloon only? Still a few hatchbacks with the old fashioned hand brake, such as the Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed, Ford Puma. Compact crossovers like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic also. Most of the bigger saloon cars moved away from them a number of years back.

Neilw

lawgrad15 wrote: »

I should have said at the outset it's not for me - I'm researching for an older family member who is very against an electric handbrake. I couldn't find much info online so I said I would try here. Cheers!

If they bought an automatic with electric handbrake I would bet their mind would be changed after a couple of weeks.

oceanman

like everything they grand when the are working, but once they start giving trouble it will cost a lot more than a new cable.:eek:

Toyotafanboi

Modern systems don't really give trouble like they did when they were new technology 10-15 years ago. The most popular failure i've seen with most brands is actually the switch on the dashboard. The calipers, motors and control units are tried and tested.

To answer OP's question, i cant even think of a new saloon car in general (from a non premium brand), let alone one with a manual handbrake.

For Forks Sake

Good News!

https://www.dacia.ie/vehicles/sandero.html

For Forks Sake

In an actual serious answer, the Renault Megane saloon (grand coupe) in "Play" trim level seems to have a manual handbrake, the "Iconic" and "Signature" trims are electronic

kirving

oceanman wrote: »

like everything they grand when the are working, but once they start giving trouble it will cost a lot more than a new cable.:eek:

I mean, you could apply that to everything from central locking to auto wipers.

I don't mind using the manual handbrake in an automatic as it's only used when parking, but the biggest advantage more room on the centre console for storage.

Banana Republic 1

lawgrad15 wrote: »

I should have said at the outset it's not for me - I'm researching for an older family member who is very against an electric handbrake. I couldn't find much info online so I said I would try here. Cheers!

Skoda Kamiq doesn’t have an electric handbrake. It’s an suv style car that does come in automatic but has only a manuall handbrake.

baldshin

Had my Ioniq had a manual handbrake last year it would've saved it. Written off in flooding as the handbrake wouldn't release (the only thing not working at that point) for me to move it before the water got too high and destroyed everything.

Rrrrrr2

MrMusician18 wrote: »

3 series I think it's still manual handbrake only. I read something about driving heritage bollocks as the reason they've retained it

Mine is 19 reg new model and I can assure you it’s electronic. Don’t ever recall seeing manual as being standard.
I don’t get why some dislike them- mine is set to automatic handbrake so no fears of ever forgetting to engage it and the car rolling away. Great safety feature

zg3409

Rrrrrr2 wrote: »

Mine is 19 reg new model and I can assure you it’s electronic. Don’t ever recall seeing manual as being standard.
I don’t get why some dislike them- mine is set to automatic handbrake so no fears of ever forgetting to engage it and the car rolling away. Great safety feature

I had a manual golf with electronic handbrake. I never liked it. I said I would get used to it, never did. It seemed to keep holding until engine revs were high. As it was a diesel with high torque I had a habit of not touching accelerator and letting out clutch to start off, particular when traffic lights went green and I was not the first car. When I did this the electronic handbrake would not release and car would try drag back wheels forward. This happened for years of ownership. Mechanically they give issues on old Nissan leaf.

One day I was moving car to wash it, so I manually turned off handbrake, and car rolled into wall and damaged bumper. My fault, but never happened with manual handbrake.

In an VW auto now with auto handbrake and while its better its still not perfect. At traffic lights the auto hold takes 1 or 2 seconds to come on, and if you wait for car to fully stop but not extra 2 seconds, then take foot off brake, the car proceeds to creep forward into car in front. You need to look at dash for green handbrake light every time.

I have another auto car with electronic handbrake and auto hold resets to off every trip ( no memory) (Hyundai) and it keeps creeping into car in front. Worse still the proper hill stop handbrake only turns on if auto hold option was selected after starting car. Thus often when you park car handbrake DOES NOT come on at all, meaning you are relying on engine to hold car on a hill, unless you pick to manually trigger parking brake.

I understand the whole extra space for storage, but the implementation of these systems is still far from perfect. I drive 3 cars regularly, manual handbrake, auto where auto hold defaults off, one where auto hold is default on. Part of the reason I switched one car from manual gearbox to auto gearbox was to try solve electronic handbrake issues.

eddie

Neilw wrote: »

If they bought an automatic with electric handbrake I would bet their mind would be changed after a couple of weeks.

PersonalY I hate the new Electric units... I contstantly forget to set it ( never happened with the old style ) and have to recheck and its not like you can look and see itis engaged - without sitting back in to see the light obscured by the steering wheel.... and what idiot decided that it will only engage if engaged .... I mean if I stop switch off the engine, lock the doors,, one would think it reasonable that the brake would engage... at the least as a fail safe - it does not....

And the number of people that are involved in accidents and personal injuries must be huge,a s they are in the paper all the time..

MrMusician18

All I can say is that I've never had any trouble with the electric parking brake on my car and wouldn't ever go back.
I was thinking of upgrading to a 3 series last year, but at least for the years I was interested in it wasn't available so didn't go that way.

I never great it nor engaging either, I just listen for it. I've never had to intervene.

bazz26

I've had numerous cars over the last 10 years with electric parking brakes and never had difficulty using them or any faults. I'm now back in a car with a manual handbrake and again have no issue with it, either work very well with an automatic gearbox. The only time I use the manual handbrake is when I release it when taking off and put it on again when parking up. I use the foot brake for any temporary stops. The one complaint I have about the manual handbrake though is the waste of space that the leaver takes up.

I can understand how an elderly person would have trouble with them, they probably spent most of their driving life using a manual handbrake so it's very hard for them to get used to a different way of doing it. Unfortunately fewer new cars are coming with the traditional manual handbrake now bar cheap cars that are built to a budget, same goes with automatic gear shifters, they are now being replaced with fly by wire buttons to allow more cabin space and better use of it. That's progression for you.

TheBoyConor

colm_mcm wrote: »

Drive some cars with electronic handbrakes, they’re better than you think.

Yeah. Until it starts throwing lights. Then you'll curse it. The worst think abou these types of faults is that a fault in a switch or a caliper motor will often lock out the engine and prevent it from starting up again once stopped, bricking the car and potentially leaving you stranded in a very dodgy location. At least with a lever handbrake you could either continue on handbrakeless or if it had jammed, just drag the offending wheel along until you can park somewhere safely.
I have been in that unfortunate position with a Passat and a Volvo where faults unrelated to the engine locked out the engine and at one time left me stranded in the middle of a very dangerous junction on a windy regional road in Cork.

And with a electric it is 100% on or off. There is no in-between ability to control it.

As for the extra storage, store what exactly? more rubbish, broken biros, receipts, mouldy coffee cups and the slimy grit studded and hair infested remains of mislaid sweets and chocolates? We all know that is the most common contents of storage pockets in cars.

As someone said, with a lever handbrake it is immediately obvious if it is on or off. With a button you've to get in and check a little light somewhere.

I would rather stick with the old fashioned lever. At least you know where you stand with it.

colm_mcm

An electric handbrake with auto hold is a godsend.

TheBoyConor

colm_mcm wrote: »

An electric handbrake with auto hold is a godsend.

Maybe it is...for people who haven't the skill or co-ordination to use a proper handbrake to do a hill start.

colm_mcm

Nah, even for stuff like stop start driving it’s great. Even on a manual.

Toyotafanboi

TheBoyConor wrote: »

The worst think abou these types of faults is that a fault in a switch or a caliper motor will often lock out the engine and prevent it from starting up again once stopped, bricking the car and potentially leaving you stranded.

I have to say, this is utter rubbish. I've never seen an example of anything like this and most if not all modern cars are designed to avoid scenarios like this.

In fact on a b7 or b8 Passat, for example if you removed both rear calipers and motors, the parking brake switch and all the associated wiring and threw it all in the bin, it would still start and drive.

In fact, you often see it in practise on b6 Passats where every element of the system gives bother. When recovery drivers attend these cars they just remove the motors and away the car goes.

colm_mcm

In other news, power steering wears your tyres out, and electric windows won’t work if you drive into a lake.

alias no.9

baldshin wrote: »

Had my Ioniq had a manual handbrake last year it would've saved it. Written off in flooding as the handbrake wouldn't release (the only thing not working at that point) for me to move it before the water got too high and destroyed everything.

There's usually a manual override in the boot to release it

AMKC

baldshin wrote: »

Had my Ioniq had a manual handbrake last year it would've saved it. Written off in flooding as the handbrake wouldn't release (the only thing not working at that point) for me to move it before the water got too high and destroyed everything.

You should have just drove it out with the handbrake on if that's even possible with an electric handbrake. I remember been at my aunts when I was young and she drove off fast with the handbrake on and the smoke lol.

User1998

Admittedly I have been left stranded by the electric parking break on my old b6 Passat. The caliper got stuck and wouldn’t release. I still hope I never have to pull a manual handbrake again, hate the things. Electric handbrake with auto hold is great

Stallingrad

This is a very timely post as my mother is looking for a car with a hand crank as she doesn't trust starter motors.

Seriously OP, auto handbrake with hill hold will make your older family members life much easier. They should try one.

freddieot

My first car had a manual choke that you pushed in when the engine warmed up and because it was a high spec model it had a button push radio with 2 buttons for FM and two for AM and headrests in the front. That's enough comfort for most people. New fangled gizzmos, who needs them

3d4life

Its looking like manual handbrakes will have to get a listing on the AH thread There is a generation that has not grown up with ......

@freddieot, 6V electrics and bowden cable operated drum brakes on the front too ?

beauf

Stallingrad wrote: »

This is a very timely post as my mother is looking for a car with a hand crank as she doesn't trust starter motors.

Seriously OP, auto handbrake with hill hold will make your older family members life much easier. They should try one.

Old people being known for having an open mind and trying new things.

I tried to talk one parent out of an entirely unsuitable new car for them and got nowhere. They hated the car and rarely drove it.

beauf

3d4life wrote: »

Its looking like manual handbrakes will have to get a listing on the AH thread There is a generation that has not grown up with ......

@freddieot, 6V electrics and bowden cable operated drum brakes on the front too ?

Be the same with manual gearboxs. Petrol or diesel, and actually having to drive a car.

FionnK86

From working in quickpark as valet , the older Passat electric handbrake would always lock up on rainy weeks. If owner was away they’d often come back and we’d be unable to move car.

Never seen it much on newer cars. Fair more troubled by door handles on Fiat 500s!

DaveyDave

I think people either haven't had a decent experience with an electric handbrake or are just against it for the sake of being old fashioned. There's absolutely nothing to dislike if it's implemented properly. I never need to set it in my Golf, and auto hold is a great convenience feature to have.

Electric handbrake has nothing to do with hill hold. The 2nd gen i30 has a manual handbrake and won't roll back on steeper roads. Don't most cars have hill assist these days?

shanec1928

I have an auto handbrake on my manual leon, its a great stop the car press the brake and thats it. I have gotten so used to it on the rare occasions that i have to drive a car with a manual handbrake ive to be remind to use the handbrake :pac: at this stage I wouldnt even consider buying a car with a manual handbrake.

beauf

DaveyDave wrote: »

I think people either haven't had a decent experience with an electric handbrake or are just against it for the sake of being old fashioned. There's absolutely nothing to dislike if it's implemented properly. I never need to set it in my Golf, and auto hold is a great convenience feature to have.

Electric handbrake has nothing to do with hill hold. The 2nd gen i30 has a manual handbrake and won't roll back on steeper roads. Don't most cars have hill assist these days?

I liked it when I've used a car with it. That's not the issue though. Old people can be particular bloody minded. I have seen cars give trouble with them. But it wouldn't put me off.

CiniO

lawgrad15 wrote: »

Hi all,

What options are there for 211's in saloons with manual handbrakes?

Thanks!

Fiat Tipo.
It's offered in saloon, and has manual handbrake.

CiniO

McGaggs wrote: »

Why do you want one?

It's probably nearly next to impossible to do handbrake turns and u-turns with electronic handbrake